Central QLD Forecaster Notes by Steve Shearer (issued on Fri 31 Dec)

This week and next (Dec 31 – Jan7)

Central QLD:  Plenty of surf NYE/NY day as hybrid tropical low tracks down from Northern Coral Sea, eases quickly once low tracks south of Fraser Coast.

A hybrid tropical low is now located E/SE of Cairns and moving SE, energising a long, broad fetch of SE winds as it squeezes onto a supporting high pressure system in the Tasman Sea. Fresh to strong SE winds are already whipping up rideable surf along the northern parts of the CQ coast, extending down to more southern parts during the day. 

Expect size in the 2-3ft range to peak during the day in the North today.

Areas from Yeppoon south will be the beneficiary of an intensification of the hybrid low (possible TC) through today, likely peaking in the 3ft range tomorrow, bigger 3-4ft at more exposed breaks in the Burnett coast. That offers a great morning of waves to start the New Year off. Winds will be fresh/strong SE so you’ll need to tuck in behind a headland or surf in the fetch. Either way there’ll be plenty of wave energy on hand to kick off 2022.

Size will roll off quickly Sun as the system tracks south out of the swell window. Leftovers in the 2ft range will quickly drop away to 1-2ft during the day at more exposed breaks, although winds should improve, tending more S’ly and backing down a few notches.

Longer term and the surf goes back to sleep along the Capricorn coast through next week. Models are suggesting a retrograding tropical low later next week, pushing in from the New Caledonia area, back towards the QLD coast. That does offer some potential for small surf later next weekend at the more exposed breaks.

More on that Mon. Grab some surf while it's there and have a great New Years!